I’ve never kept track of all the hurricanes and storms I’ve been through in Florida. I’d like to consider myself an expert with all the storm tracking and terminology. I know exactly what supplies to buy and we have a plan for when it’s our time to evacuate.
These are things you have to be ready for living in this part of the East coast. My mother-in-law always calls from Italy as soon as she sees a hurricane in America. It could even be on the completely opposite coast and she’ll call to check and make sure we are all safe.
Today I wanted to share a recipe that brings comfort to my family. It’s a sticky date loaf filled with wonderful spice and rich chocolate. I make it almost every week and sometimes make them as a muffin.
I am keeping everyone in my thoughts and prayers and appreciate everyone that wants to help those in need.
A little about the sticky chocolate date loaf: Dates are naturally sweet and I cut much of the sugar that was in the original recipe. I adapted the recipe from this site. I also made this recipe vegan. It’s so moist from the banana and dates, the eggs are not missed at all. A little whole wheat flour also makes the cake a bit more healthy. You could make the cake entirely with whole wheat or with white flour…however you prefer. Just make it and share a slice with a hot cup of tea and someone you love.
Sticky Chocolate Date Loaf
30 pitted dates, coarsely chopped
1 1/4 cups water
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 Tablespoon molasses
1 ripe banana, mashed
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup dark chocolate chips, melted and cooled
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (to stir in the batter right before baking)
Directions:
Preheat oven at 350 F and line a loaf pan with parchment or non stick baking paper. (or you can make them
in muffin tins)
In a small pan, combine dates and water and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for about 3 minutes or until dates are soft and liquid has reduced. Lower the heat and stir in baking soda. Stir well once the mixture foams up; set aside to cool.
In a large mixing bowl whisk together the flours, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. In another large mixing bowl, whisk the oil, sugar, molasses, banana, and vanilla until fluffy. Stir in the cooled melted chocolate.
Gently fold in half the flour mixture then fold in all the date mixture. Gently fold in the remaining flour and the rest of the chocolate chips.
Transfer batter to tin and tilt tin gently from side to side to level batter. Bake for 1 hour or until a fine skewer comes out almost clean from centre of loaf and loaf begins to pull away from the sides of tin.
Remove from oven and turn loaf out onto a cooling rack. Enjoy!
xo
Lora
Spread the word on how to help through The American Red Cross with this badge:
I simply cannot imagine – the stories I am hearing are breaking my heart! I hope our #WeCare reach is far and wide!
on a sweet note, I will be making this cake…
I know you know of hurricanes first hand…I've only seen the devastation on TV. You've created such a delicious, comfort loaf to offer support to the Sandy victims…and I'm thrilled to be spreading the word with you today. xo
It is incredible what the force of nature can do – what a wonderful thing you are doing to help those who suffered losses recently.
Lora I love how generous and caring the food blogging community is – I did not know about Macy's accepting donations, that is great to hear – and this date loaf sounds wonderful! I'm not sure if you have heard, but there is another food blogging event going on today as well to encourage donations for Hurricane Sandy relief – wouldn't it be great if we all joined together to form an even larger movement to garner support for hurricane victims? Feel free to link up your post to Food Bloggers Support for Sandy to help get the word out and share your post.
It really is so heartbreaking to think about what people are going through. I'm hoping we make a huge difference.
Your loaf is gorgeous, Lora!
There´s never enough to be done for those who lost everything. I´m glad you´re all ok Lora and this is the perfect way to spread the word. And that date bread is absolutely amazing!
Great job with your sticky chocolate date loaf, it looks delicious! Thanks for all you did to bring this event together, and for keeping it about the victims.
What a delicious loaf cake for a wonderful cause!
Great loaf – I am bookmarking to make for my son. Thanks for such a meaningful post about the tragedy.
Some buttery caramel sauce on the side and I'd move in. 🙂
If we all gave just $10 we could help everyone.
What a lovely loaf cake. The outpouring of support from bloggers has been wonderful. Many of my relatives experienced the wrath of the storm and I know this means so much to them.
We can't stop the storms but we can help each other and pray!
Thanks for the recipe I used to make this cake long time ago, but lost the recipe. God Bless all!
Beautiful post, my friend!! So glad we all came together to help out those in need.
As always, beautiful cake! xo
You know I grew up with Florida hurricanes as well and it taught us the power of nature and that we should respect it with awe. And at times like this, comfort food is such a necessity! This cake reminds me of the date nut bread my mom always ate (she bought it and kept it to herself!!) but I love your with chocolate added so much more!
I used to gorge on this sticky, dark date nut loaf from a long gone bakery in the town I grew up in. To this day, I've yet to taste one even close to it. What was their secret? Seeing your beautiful and delicious looking Sticky Chocolate Walnut Date Loaf makes me wonder if it was chocolate?? Regardless, this is a perfect comfort food for a wonderful cause. You know all of my details, so I won't write a novel xoxo
What a lovely post and a lovely looking loaf. I'm so encouraged by all the wonderful outreach on-line that is happening for all those in need of help recovering from Hurricane Sandy.
I'm glad to hear that you and your family are made it through the storm! Sending only positive thoughts and energy to everyone impacted by Sandy. (Thanks for the aid links!)
Your chocolate date loaf looks splendid!
Happy to hear that you are safe and experienced minimal damage in your area. Thank you for this post and helping to spread the word, such a frighting thing and seems that even with warning the destruction can be so devastating.
Your cake looks wonderful and like a serious comfort treat!
Love this cause Lora. Poor souls especially now as the Holidays are approaching. Such a heartbreak! 🙁 So happy to be a part of this effort. Love your rich date bread.
What a great event you are particating in! Glad that you and your family are okay. It is heart wrenching to hear about all of the destruction back east. This chocolate date loaf looks and sounds amazing!!!!
Nice and comforting bread in such a sad situation. I have to worry about tornadoes where we live and it's not much fun either. I'm always glad to see us food bloggers get involved for causes close to our hearts.
Can I use Medjool dates for this recipe? I'm sure the hurricane victims are wanting a taste of home right now. To lose everything you possess is a tragedy, but as long as you don't lose your spirit…This is the time for action, so I'll help spread the word!
I hope you don't mind that I have posted your recipe on my blog. I have credited you with it and linked your blog.
Thank you
Everydaycook
Glad to know you and your family are safe. I think it's wonderful what you are going to help others! Your bread looks great!
More than your wonderful recipes, i'm even more in love with your shots. Great photography!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Hurricanes scare me! We have earthquakes here(and those scare me too!)
I like that you've made your bread vegan-I'm sure it's delicious;-)
Awesome post and awesome loaf. I am posting a chocolate date cake tomorrow! I want to try yours!
Thanks for the information on how to donate to the victims of Sandy. It truly was heartbreaking to see all of the devastation. BTW, all of your baked goods look so wonderful. I wish I had young ones that could help us eat them if I made them here. However, we don't and would eat them all ourselves, so I don't bake often.
I'd like to invite you to join me at the Clever Chicks Blog Hop this week! http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/11/clever-chicks-blog-hop-8-turkey.html
I hope to see you there!
Cheers!
Kathy Shea Mormino
The Chicken Chick